Melon Patch Theatre's 'The Little Foxes' racks up Sara awards

When the votes for the Saras awards were tallied, Berry won best actor as gay dance instructor Michael in "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks."

"A woman came up to me and said, 'I never understood my gay son's anger. You helped me,'" Berry said. "To have done something that affects people's lives, well, I want people to realize that we are doing serious theater."

More honors surrounded him when the play he directed, "The Little Foxes," ran off with all the Saras given for comedy or drama except Berry's best actor and Cliff Barrineau's lighting design for "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks."

"The Little Foxes," by Lillian Hellman, won best comedy or drama and put Saras in the hands of RuthAnn Proch for best actress, Michael Winternheimer for best supporting actor and Charlotte Jardine for best supporting actress.

Other Saras won by actors and designers of "The Little Foxes" went to Barrineau for best featured supporting actor, Ze Carter for best featured supporting actress, Tim Simpson as best cameo, Kate Campbell for her costume design, Winternheimer for his sound design and Berry and Leah Conner for their set design.

"Nunsense II," directed by John Turcotte, won best musical and won Saras for Lizdel Collado as best actress, Laney Lavine as best featured supporting actress and Winternheimer for his sound design.

Nathan Jessee won best actor in a musical for his work in "Sweeney Todd." Castmates Jessa Dodd won for best supporting actress, Barrineau for best featured supporting actor and Kyle Stone for best cameo.

Winternheimer's lighting design for "Sweeney Todd" won as did Turcotte's set design.

Barrineau won the Sara as best supporting actor for his work in "Forever Plaid" as did Sara Gray's costumes.

But the best accolade for Berry may lie in the future. As president of the theater, he will build on the course correction the organization has made.

"Some people said we couldn't do 'Six Dance Lessons' at the Melon Patch, that our audience wouldn't accept it," Berry said. "But it was the most talked-about show of the year. This year we'll be doing 'Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike,' which won the Tony for best play last year. We are establishing a new audience."